Umno Youth upset over ‘pendatang’

Kula told to quit for making references to the word in speech

KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran should resign for making references to the word pendatang during a speech in Tamil that he made in Nilai last week, says Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

“We urge him to resign as minister and he should also be investigated by the authorities.

“If he does not resign, then the Prime Minister should fire him,” he said after lodging a police report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters here yesterday.

He was accompanied by about 50 supporters.

Dr Asyraf also said Umno Youth would be lodging police reports nationwide on the issue.

Kulasegaran has since apologised for his speech.

He said his remark had been misconstrued to suggest he had used the word pendatang (immigrant) with reference to “people who would resent its application to them”.

“I hereby unreservedly apologise for the hurt I may have caused and withdraw the offensive reference in that extemporaneous speech.

“Words are so chameleonlike, they often take on different meanings in different languages, like when I spoke in Tamil,” he said in a statement.

He pointed out that he had never been a controversial figure in racial and religious issues and pledged to defend the Federal Constitution.